With temperatures bottoming out around -15F in Minnesota, I started researching CCV issues. It turns out my CCV had been replaced by the first owner somewhere around 80,000 miles. The 2nd owner, who I bought the truck from, also had the CCV replaced at approx 120,000 miles.
Sure enough, at 143,500 miles, in the middle of downtown Minneapolis during rush hour, the truck starts stumbling and smoking from the engine bay. The dreaded CCV failure returns for a 3rd time! I limped the car home for another 3 miles, the problem seemed to have gone away after I got more heat into it. I didn’t want to run the truck any more so I let it sit in my garage for 3-4 days.
It turns out that BMW will warranty the oil separator for 2 years. What surprised me was that they will also cover the labor charge for the diagnosis and parts replacement. Since my CCV was in the 2 year window, I made a call to the previous owner. He faxed me the work order on the CCV replacement and I had the receipts with BMW part numbers.
I called up my buddy in the service department at a local dealer, BMW Minnetonka. I told him about my situation and he recommended having the truck towed in for a diagnosis. Called my insurance company, they covered the tow, so we pulled the X out of the garage with a winch, right onto a flat bed. The joys of having an OEM hitch, easy hookup.
On the tow truck:
Not only was the diagnosis free, they gave me a 2013 328i x-drive for a rental! 3,000 miles, black/black.
3 days goes by with the F30, did I mention how insanely good this car is? I don’t even know where to start: heated steering wheel new favorite feature ever, 3 camera parking system, navigation, x-drive system with sport/comfort/eco modes, blind spot warning, power folding mirrors, Bluetooth, Sirius radio, start-stop feature surprisingly cool. 8 speed automatic… one of my new favorite transmissions. Hugely comfortable and very fast, also got over 30 MPG on the highway. I’m in love. Need $50k.
So I get an email from my service guy later in the day and he said he agreed it was the CCV. He ordered new hoses, separator, clamps, replaced everything, cleaned the oil out of the intake, topped off the oil level, filled my washer fluid, washed the truck, full interior cleaning, steamed the engine bay, replaced oil cap gasket (where oil was spewing, valve cover gaskets fine) and took it for a test drive to burn out any remaining oil. I suspect he wanted to experience the 4.6
Eventually I get the phone call to come and pick up my truck. I drive up, someone runs from inside to take the rental car back, and meanwhile another dude is summoned to go pick up my truck from the upstairs heated parking. They pull it down into the service area which is a stunning room full of BMWs… X5 M, F30s, new 5s and 7s, M6 verts, etc… None the less my 4.6 had great presence next to all of those big $$ Bimmers. A few mods really goes a long way compared to stock, IMO.
Signed some paperwork, the best part was when the lady behind the service desk said “no balance owed”
Total cost: $0.00.
I am incredibly pleased to announce that a dealership took such excellent care of me. Every step of the process was seamless and I felt they were looking out for my best interest. Not your usual story from the dealerships. I advise anyone to check out BMW Minnetonka, the dealership itself is some 26,000 sq/ft. It has a freaking theatre in it. A stunning facility. If I’m not mistaken it is one of the largest BMW dealers in the country.
I picked up my 4.6is and quickly jumped on the road. I did what any enthusiast should do and put 300 miles on the truck, went to our familys cabin and back. Truck drove like a champion through mounds of snow, blizzard conditions. The 4.6 really shines on longer drives, it’s a highway monster for sure.
Now I am on the trucks third CCV, which is a little bit unnerving. For what it’s worth, I was doing a lot of short trips, and with temps that low, I should have made a point to get the motor good and hot every few days, I did not do so. Either way, the CCV design is poor or maybe it’s best considered a wear item if you live in these climates.
We had talked about doing a heated CCV, or somehow modifying the design, but unfortunately the parts warranty would not cover the “upgrade”.
New goal: do at least one 30 minute drive per week, fully warming the motor for an extended period of time. It’ an odd theory: driving more to better preserve your car, but it makes sense. I know some members are against letting the truck warm up at idle, if it allows you to get proper temp into the motor then it may be worth it. Plus, I now have an excuse to take the long way home once a week. As a car enthusiast, there are worse problems to have.
Thanks for reading.
EP
